Coin Terminology and Glossary

The Coin Collecting Dictionary includes 546 titles used widely in the coin collectors community, and has received over 1068214 search inquires.

Selected title: First Strike
Explanation: An unofficial term referring to a coin struck shortly after a new die is put into use. Such coins often have prooffike surfaces and resemble proof, in certain (but not all) characteristics. Resurfaced previously-used dies sometimes also have these characteristics
Explanation: A grading service term used by PCGS, NGC, and other grading services. It indicates the coin was in one of the first groups of coins shipped by the US mint. PCGS and NGC will seal the coin in their "First Strike" plastic slab holder with the words " First Strike" inside the PCGS holder

Most popular coin titles

DefinitionSearchesPercentage
Specimen Proof (SP-70 or PF-70) 55554  13.50%
Silver Clad 32464  7.89%
Coin Silver 24575  5.97%
Slabbed Coins 23457  5.70%
BN 23036  5.60%
Encapsulated Coin 22033  5.35%
RB 21502  5.22%
Deep Cameo (DC or DCAM) 18501  4.50%
PF (PF60, PF70) 18316  4.45%
Reeded Edge 17320  4.21%
Ultra Cameo (UCAM) 17142  4.17%
Rarity 16263  3.95%
PR (PR60, PR70) 16246  3.95%
PQ 16057  3.90%
MS (MS60-MS70) 15786  3.84%
Incuse 15081  3.66%
Coin drop 14880  3.62%
High Relief 14732  3.58%
Reverse Cameo 14410  3.50%
Obverse or Face side 14150  3.44%